Rotating topper for filled cans



C. F. SEEKAMP ROTATING TOPPER FOR FILLED CANS Filed June 12, 1918Patented Feta. 3, 1925.

PATENT OFFICE.

CONRAD F. SEEKAIVIIP, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN CANCOMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y,, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

ROTATING TOFFEE Application filed June 12,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CONRAD F. SEEKAMP, a citizen of the United States,residing in New York, in the county of New York and State of New Yorkhave invented a new and useful Improvement in Rotating Toppers forFilled Cans, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates in general to topping devices for filled cans, i.e. devices adapted to enter the cans and bring the contents thereof to apredetermined level in order that such contents may not interfere withthe positioning of the closures or the action of the closing machine.

A principal object of the invention is the provision of a toppingdevicehaving certain smooth action, entering gradually into the can andgradually leaving it, for squeezing down the contents without abruptaction.

A further and highlyimportant object of the invention is a toppingdevice which will enter readily into the cans and withdraw therefromwithout the use of cams and other auxiliary mechanism particularlyprovided to give to the topping device approaching and retreatingmovement, permitting thereby the provision of a machine with simpler andfewer parts than has been generally possible in the character ofmachines in use prior to my invention.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a topping devicehaving these and other advantages which will provide ample room for thefeeding of the cans into accurate position upon the support of thetopping devices.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparentas it is better understood from the following description whenconsidered in connection with the accompanying drawing illustrating apreferred embodiment thereof.

0n the drawing,

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a topping device embodying my presentinvent-ion and showing so much of the feeding mechanism of a closingmachine as is necessary for an understanding of the invention; and

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken centrally through said topping deviceshowing the can support in elevation.

Referring to Fig. 1 reference'character 11 indicates a rotating table orturret upon FOR FILLED CANS.

1918. Serial No. 239,639.

which filled cans 12 are fed in any suitable manner. This table rotatesin the direction of thenarrow a delivering the cans to a spacing tableor turret 13, which in turn delivers them to the can support it of thetopping device. The turret or table 13 is provided with guides 15 andcan spacers 16 of any suitable or preferred construction.

The support 14: is carried upon a bearing shaft 17 passing through itand supporting it for independent rotation. The support 14 in thepresent instance is a rotatable turret consisting of a flat cansupporting circular part 18, a hub 19 which is provided with spaced canpushers 21. The hub 19 is recessed in its upper side to receive acoupling sleeve 22 which forms a bearing for a slightly bevelled gear 23locked by a pin 24 to the turret.

The toppers proper, indicated at 25, are carried by. an annulus 26having arms 27 extending into a hub 28 which is mounted upon a bearingshaft 29, which shaft extends into coupling 22 and which is angularlydis posed with respect to the bearing shaft 17 the axes of the twoshafts 17 and 29 intersecting within the coupling. The shafts 17 and 29are rigidly connected with the coupling 22 by pins 31 which preventrotation of either shaft. The annulus 26, arms 27 and hub 28 constitutea rotating member which is driven by a bevel gear 32 meshing with thegear 23 of the support so that the toppers and support move together incircular paths in planes approaching each other at the one side topermit the toppers to enter the cans for topping, and at the other sideto permit the toppers to be raised a substantial distance above the canheights for feeding. The approach and retreat of the toppers withrespect to the cans is along a smooth, continuous arcuate path and thetoppersenter the cans with an even movement. Suitable guides 33 and 34are provided to retain the cans in the desired path of travel and theyleave the topper along the path 35 propelled in any suitable fashion.Driving mechanism of any desired character (not shown) is provided torotate the toppers, which in the present instance may be considered tobe a sleeve 36 extending down along the shaft '17 and having upon it acollar 37 for supporting the topping device.

It is thought that the invention and many bearing of its attendantadvantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and itwill be apparent that various changes may be made in the form,construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from thespirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its materialadvantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferredembodiment thereof.

I claim:

1. The combination of a can carrier moving in a fixed plane, and atopper having plunger elements to enter within cans on said carrier andarranged and turning in a fixed plane which is at an acute angle to saidplane of the carrier and means for moving said carrier and topper intimed relation to each other.

2. A topping device for filled cans comprising in combination anarcuately moving can support rotatable about a vertical axis, and anarcuately moving topper for entering into the can and leveling thecontents, said topper and an arc of movement of said topper lying in afixed plane inclined with respect to the plane of the can support.

3. A topping device for filled cans, comprising in combination a supportfor cans moving in a single plane, and a moving topper co-operating withsaid. support and adapted to enter the cans and also arranged and movingin a single fixed plane, said two single planes intersecting at an acuteangle. I

at. A topping device for filled cans, com prising in combination asupport for cans moving in a single plane, and a moving topperco-operating with said support and adapted to enter the cans and alsoarranged. and moving in a single fixed plane throughout the operativeportion of its movement, said two single planes intersecting an acuteangle.

5. A. topping device for filled cans, comprising in combination arotating support and a rotating topping device adapted to enter intocans on said support, the plane in which said topping device is arrangedand rotates being a fixed plane at an acute angle with respect to theplane of said sup port.

6. A topping device for filled cans, comprising in combination angularlydisposed bearing members having their axes intersecting, a rotatingsupport carried by one of said bearings, and a topping device carried bythe other and adapted to enter the cans at a point in their travel andgearing arranged around the said bearings whereby one of said elementsdrives the other.

7. A topping device for filled cans, com prising in combinationangularly disposed members having their axes intererectin a rotatin suort carried b one of said bearings, and a topping device car ried by theother and adapted to enter the cans at a point in their travel todepress the contents of the cans, and driving connections between saidsupport and said topping device.

8. A topping device for filled cans, comprising in combination angularlydisposed bearing members having their axes intersecting, a rotating cansupport carried by one of said bearings, a topping device carried by theother and adapted to enter the cans at a point in their travel fordisplace ing parts of the contents of the cans, and can spacing andpropelling members carried by said support.

9. In combination, means for feeding can bodies seria'tim, and a seriesof plungers having means for displacing parts of the contents of thecans, said plungers being arranged in and movable along a prescribedpath in a fixed plane which throughout is at an inclination to andintersects the plane of the path of the open tops of the can bodies, sothat said plungers enter the can bodies at the point of intersection ofsaid planes for levelling up the contents thereof, and means for movingthe plungers in said inclined plane, substantially as described.

10. In combination a feeder for can bodies moving around a substantiallyvertical axis and in a horizontal plane, a series of plungers forlevelling up the contents in the can bodies, and a carrier means forsaid plungers moving in one plane which is at an angle to the horizontalplane of movement of the feeder, whereby the plungers at one point enterthe can and in their travel in said plane rise therefrom substantiallyas described:

11. In combination, a can body feeder, a series of topping plungers fordisplacing parts of the contents of the cans and car-- rier means forthe plungers rotating throughout its course in one plane at aninclination to the plane of movement of the feeder to bring the plungersin succession into the plane of movement of the open upper ends of thecan bodies, and then remove them therefrom. substantially as described.

12. In combination, a feeder for can bodies rotating in a horizontalplane, a series of plungers to level up the contents in the can bodies,and carrier means there for arranged over and substantially co-axialwith the rotating feeder, said plungers being arranged and having asingle movement in a fixed plane which is at an inclination to the planeof movement of the feeder, substantially as described.

13.111 combination a feederfor can bodies rotating in a horizontalplane, and about a vertical axis, a series of plungers for levelling upthe contents in the can bodies, and a carrier means for said plungersmoving in a plane at an angle to the plane of movement of the feeder,and arranged over said feeder and driven by contact with said feeder, atthe lowermost part of the carrier substantially as described.

14. In combination, a can feeder ;comprising a series of substantiallyradiating arms rotating in a horizontal plane. series of plungers, onefor each can feeding arm with a carrier therefor rotating in a planeinclined to the plane of movement of the can feed arms and means fordriving thecan feed arms which in turn drive the plunger carrier,substantially as described.

15. In combination, a can feeder comprising a plurality of radial armsrevolving about a vertical axis, a post at said axis, a series ofplungers and carrier means therefor rota-ting in a plane inclined to theplane of movement of the arms, said carrier being supported on the post.

16. The combination of a pair of interengaging gears having their planesof r0- tation arranged at an acute angle to each other, a rotary cancarrier having connection and moving with one of said gears, a rotarytopper for filled cans having its plane of rotation at an acute angle tothat of the can carrier and connected and moving with the other of saidgears, and means for maintaining and driving said gears in the describedrelation to give the operative part of the topper a gradual approach toand recession from the cans on the carrier.

Signed in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CONRAD F. SEEKAMP. Witnesses:

GEO. W. WHEELWRIGHT, F. X. BECKMAN.

